Brunei-Korea Media Exchange Contribute to Cultural Understanding

EXCHANGES of media persons between countries will greatly contribute to more understanding and appreciation in culture and the lifestyle for people within a particular country, a senior government official said yesterday.

Permanent Secretary (Media and Cabinet) at the Prime Minister’s Office and Chairman of the Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI), Hj Mohd Rozan Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yunos, said media is a lens through which people within a national boundary can see the outside world.

Speaking at the welcoming dinner in conjunction with the ASEAN-ROK Media Exchange visit to Brunei at the Mangrove Paradise resort last night, Hj Mohd Rozan said he hoped the Korean media counterparts can show and portray the true colours of Brunei, its way of life, its people and environment within the Malay Muslim Monarchy (MIB) philosophy.

“This is not only for the understanding of the Korean people but also the people all around the world in general. This was evident by the media exchange programme that was held during the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan last year, where media participants from Brunei shared their stories and experiences through their writings,’’ he said.

Hj Mohd Rozan said writings and reports will create its own multiplier effects for both countries.

“It is through this, that people will have the interest in wanting to know more about a particular country. In hindsight, this in turn has a significant correlation to a country’s tourism sector. Media are amplifiers of information and first hand experience to people all around the world. This is the kind of impact that we all hoped for,’’ he said.

Currently, nine Korean media journalists, including an official from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs are here from September 6 to 9 for the ASEAN-Korea media exchange programme, a project under the ASEAN- Committee for Culture and Information (COCI).

Hj Mohd Rozan said he hoped the programme will meet its objective where all delegations have the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge about Brunei, as well as develop personal understanding and friendship with each other.

The permanent secretary added he hoped the programme will enable media people from both countries to exchange ideas, be more creative and active in the field of reporting and journalism.

This year’s theme for the ASEAN-ROK media exchange programme is “Enhancing the ASEAN-ROK Community through Culture.’’

DESPITE first making its appearance in the Sultanate during the 1940s, Kuih Mor continues to be a household favourite today as a tea time snack or festive treat particularly during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Siti Norhafizah Hj Bagol, a final year student at Universiti Brunei Darussalam who researched on Kuih Mor as part of her Brunei Traditional Industry module, said the three-ingredient sweet treat may have existed in Brunei as early as the 1940s when padi was known to have been grown to make different food items.

Over time, the cookie has also become a popular door-gift choice often handed out at Malay weddings or gatherings, said Siti Norhafizah.

Made with flour, oil and granulated sugar which have been ground into a powder, the bite-sized biscuits have a crumbly texture and are coated with powdered sugar.

The age-old technique of making Kuih Mor by hand has however changed over the course of time, with many now opt…

BY COMMAND of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office hereby announces that His Majesty has consented to the transfer and appointment of the following senior officers – Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau and Solicitor General has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Datin Elinda binti Haji CA Mohamed, Special Senior Duties Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs has been appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau.